With the team duals behind them, area wrestling teams now are turning their focus to the traditional tournaments.
Area traditional tourneys begin Friday and run through Saturday -- state sectionals follow next weekend with the state championships in two weeks.
Northeast Georgia figures to be well-represented once again as programs like Jefferson and Commerce, the reigning traditional state champions in Class AAA and Class A, respectively, headline what should be strong fields across the board.
Northeast Georgia-based programs are coming off a tremendous duals season that saw Jefferson and Commerce capture state titles again with Buford and Jackson County finishing second in Classes AAAA and AAA and Lumpkin County in Class AAA and North Hall in Class AAAA taking top four finishes at the State Duals championships.
The top four placers in each weight class will move on to next week’s Sectionals.
Here is a look by Area and by team for wrestlers that return to defend titles and some new stars to look for in northeast Georgia:
(Information provided for every team that made information available)
- Area 8-AAAAA traditionals (at Lanier High in Sugar Hill):
Gainesville, which won the Hall County Championships, is hoping for a better result than the Area Duals but has plenty of experience. Seniors Ken Flenoy (145 pounds), Jerson Garcia (138), Terrell Knight (160) and Anthony Costantini (195), along with sophomore Malique Johnson (132) all were state qualifiers last year but did not place. Clarke Central, which won the Area Duals, is a strong favorite in the traditionals as well.
- Area 8-AAAA traditionals (at Chestatee High in Gainesville):
For Buford, which is fresh off a state runner-up showing at the State Duals two weeks ago, Trent Ferguson (138) is a returning state champion. Jack Barber (145) finished third in 2015 and Jack Ness (195) took fourth for the Wolves. Chase Hartman (120) was a state qualifier last year. Other Wolves to watch for are Logan Ashton (106), Kyle McCullough (113), Ethan Ceran (132), Cooper Roberts (152), and Tristan Bozoian (160).
Buford won the Area Duals over North Hall.
For host Chestatee, the War Eagles return three grapplers that all finished third in state in 2015 in seniors Marvin Cunningham (138) and Jaime Arroyo (170) and junior Matthew McLellan (145). They also have returning 2015 state qualifiers in sophomore Gavin Cunningham (120) senior Garrett Brader (152) senior Jairo Cuevas (160), and senior Isaac Alarcon (182).
For Johnson, seniors Gabe Laguna (120) and Jake Holman (220) both were state qualifiers in 2015.
For North Hall, which took third at the State Duals, Michael Carew (160) returns as a state champion from 2015. Isaiah Hale (182) finished third last year and Darrien Ingram (195) took sixth. The Trojans have returning state qualifiers in Matthew Sewell (138), Nick Whitmire (170), and Randy Galvan (220).
- Area 7-AAA (at West Hall High in Oakwood):
Banks County will be led by three-time state champion in senior Chris McCrackin (138). Senior Dylan Gouine (170) finished fifth in the state in 2015. Junior Chris Guthrie (160) and sophomore Devin Mullinax (106) were state qualifiers last year but did not place.
East Hall senior Will Davidson (126) will lead the Vikings after finishing sixth in the state in 2015. James Stoudenmire (120) was was a state qualifier at 106 in 2015. Kevin Thompson (182) and Dylan Finley (220) both were state qualifiers in 2015 as well. Others to watch for for the Vikings could be Ryan Buffington (132) and Joseph Smith (170).
For Lumpkin County, which finished fourth at the State Duals, juniors Logan Brown (120) and Zach Matthews (220) both return. Brown finished second in the state and Matthews was fifth in 2015. The Indians also have some rising talent in senior Justin Cantrell (195), and juniors Carter Hopkins (152), Ceszar Ramos (285), Noah Denard (182), and Bradley Graff (126) who could all breakthrough in 2016.,
For West Hall, senior Jesse Bridgewater (132) took second in the area last year and finished fifth in the state. Junior Robbie Campbell and junior Eugenio Manilla, who got injured in last year’s Area tournament, could make a splash for the Spartans this season.
- Area 8-AAA (at Elbert County High in Elberton):
Jefferson, which has won 15 straight traditional titles over three classification, has a host of returning state champions. Dawson Bates (113), Mitchell Mcgee (120), Tanner Thurmond (132), Will Ballard (152), Chuck Allen (170), Caleb Little (182), Deshon Lester (195), and Nick Holman (285).
- Area 4-AA (at Social Circle High in Social Circle):
Riverside Military Academy has a young team but senior Nick Fernandez (160) returns after finishing as the state runner-up at 160 in 2015.
- Area 4-A (at Commerce High in Commerce):
The host Tigers, who are the two-time defending champions, are loaded again with six returning state champions from 2015. Kole Burchett (113) won the state title last year at 106. Jake Brewer (120) won the state title last year at 113, Dalton Flint (132) won the state title last year at 120, Austin Brock (138) won the state title last year at 126, Owen Brown (145) won the state title last year at 138, and Cole Chancey (182) also won the state title last year at 170. Knox Allen (170) finished second at 160 and Dontavious Mosley (195) also finished second last year at 182. Chase Forrester (160) took third last year at 152 and Michael Patton (220) took third last year at 145.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/1/365758/wrerstling-area-teams-turn-focus-to-traditional-tourneys